Before going on a trip, there is always one question that comes to mind: How can I get internet there? Fortunately, nowadays there are plenty of options for getting online abroad, thanks to eSIM cards. When it comes to making your trip to Ireland, you will have to consider which is the best option to enjoy an internet plan wherever you go. Thanks to the many possibilities of eSIM for travel, you can choose between different data plans of shorter or longer duration at different prices to connect to the internet in Ireland, depending on what you need. But which brand offers the best eSIM cards?
In this article we tell you how to find the best eSIM for Ireland depending on the type of trip you are making. You can find a wide variety of brands with different features such as speed, data limit, technical support, price or duration of the plans. In this post you can discover the main brands such as Holafly, Airalo or Simoptions, among others, and we will tell you their advantages and disadvantages to help you make a decision. We’ve already told you that unlimited datos like those of Holafly are a safe bet with which there will be no extra charges and you will also have 24h support.
Comparison of eSIMs for a trip to Ireland
When comparing various brands of eSIM, we need to consider all the features that will determine whether the card is suitable for our trip. To help you make your decision, we have prepared this summary table with all the relevant details about Holafly, Airalo, Maya Mobile, SimOptions and Ubigi. To make sure you have all the information you need, we’ll go into more detail about each eSIM brand below.
| Brand | Plan duration | Data sharing | Unlimited Data | App | GB per plan | Support | Price | Trustpilot | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holafly | 7, 10, 15, 20, 30, 60 and 90 days | No | Yes | + | Unlimited data on all plans | English, direct chat and WhatsApp | 19-99€ | 4,6 | 4,3 |
| Airalo | 7, 15 and 30 days | Yes | No | + | 1GB, 2GB, 3GB, 5GB and 10GB | In English, via bot | 7-31,5$ | 3,9 | 3,8 |
| Nomad | 7, 15, 30 days | Yes | No | + | 1GB, 3GB, 5GB, 10GB, 15GB, 20GB, 30GB, 40GB, 50GB, 100GB | In English, by email or via the App | 4-170$ | 3,1 | 3,6 |
| Simoptions | 14 and 30 days | No | No | – | 4GB, 6GB and 8GB | In English by chat | 17,9-39,9$ | 3,5 | 3 |
| Maya Mobile | 30 days | Yes | No | + | 1GB, 3GB, 5GB, 10GB and unlimited | In English by email | 5-54€ | 4,2 | 4,1 |
1. Holafly, eSIM for Ireland with unlimited data and customer service in English
| Advantages | They offer data packages by continent and for countries. Holafly’s eSIM cards are easy to purchase and install with QR code or manually. A wide variety of eSIM cards with different prices and contract durations. They have eSIM cards for 160 destinations. Most of their eSIM plans have unlimited data. Technical support 24/7 in Spanish, English, German, French, Italian and Japanese. Very flexible prices. Payable in euros, dollars and Mexican pesos. Flexible duration of data plans: 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 60 and 90 days. It has an App where you can check consumption and the days remaining on the contract. |
| Disadvantages | Their eSIM cards do not include calls or sms. They are one of the most expensive options on the market, but it’s worth it because you don’t run out of data and you don’t have to recharge. Holafly’s Kenyan eSIM card does not allow data sharing. They do not allow data sharing with other devices. You cannot do the installation through their App. |
Holafly is considered one of the best companies to sign up for an internet plan in Ireland. Not only does it offer a 24-hour customer service in Spanish, English, German, French, Italian and Japanese, but it also offers technical support that responds in less than a minute via chat or WhatsApp. It is the best customer rated company on Trustpilot with a score of 4.6.
In the case of Ireland, in the we de Holafly you can find 7 data plans ranging from 19€ to 99€, depending on the duration of the plan (between 5 and 90 days). It’s perfect for a holiday, as well as for digital nomads, students abroad or express trips to Ireland.
| Data plan | Euros | Dollars | Mexican Pesos |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 days – unlimited data | 19€ | 19$ | $339 |
| 10 days – unlimited data | 34€ | 34$ | $899 |
| 20 days – unlimited data | 57€ | 57$ | $1199 |
| 30 days – unlimited data | 69€ | 69$ | $1399 |
| 60 days – unlimited data | 87€ | 87$ | $1699 |
| 90 days – unlimited data | 99€ | 99$ | $1999 |
All you need to do is scan the QR code that will be emailed to you after purchase to install the Holafly eSIM. The other option is manual installation, which you can do without a computer by simply entering a code in your mobile phone settings. This code will be sent to you by email and you can also check it in the Holafly App, which is a very useful tool for managing the duration of your data plan.
After testing Holafly’s eSIM cards we can say that they are one of the most expensive options on the market, but the quality they offer is reflected in the price and you won’t need to top up at any point during your trip. Here we leave you this ranking where we evaluate from 1 to 5 all the features of Holafly’s eSIM cards for Ireland based on our experience.
In this post you can read about our experience with Holafly eSIM cards and some user reviews: Our thoughts on Holafly eSIM.
| Data | Duration | Support | Price | App | Speed | Sharing data | Currencies | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 4 | 4,8 | 3,5 | 5 | 4,8 | 3,5 | 4,5 | 4,5 |
2. SimOptions, an eSIM marketplace
| Advantages | Offering regional, country or global data packages. Sim Options eSIM cards are easy to purchase and install. A wide variety of eSIM cards with different duration, price and gigabytes. They have eSIM cards for 160 countries. Some plans include calls and SMS. |
| Disadvantages | Gigabytes are limited to 20GB or less and they do not have unlimited data cards. Short-term plans have very limited gigabytes. The features of eSIMs for the same country vary according to the brand contracted. The duration of data plans is limited to 14 and 30 days. Not all eSIM cards allow data top-up. Technical support depends on each brand and good customer service cannot be guaranteed. Speed depends on each brand of eSIM card. There is no App to monitor data consumption. |
SimOptions is an eSIM card company, where you can find options for different phone brands. The brand, with offices in Paris, Thailand and Hong Kong, offers data plans for eSIM cards in more than 160 countries and also has regional and global plans.
For Ireland, you’ll find a single 8, 12, 15 and 30-day data plan, with data options between 4GB and 6GB. The fixed price is $39.9. Some of the cards available also include calls.
The main drawback of SimOptions is that its website is a bit chaotic and the data plans, as they are from different brands, are very disparate and their features vary a lot, not only price, speed or duration, but also technical support, the possibility of recharging or sharing data. This will force you to look in detail at each brand and will make it harder for you to make a decision.
| Data plan | Price in Dollars |
|---|---|
| 14 days – 8 GB | 29,90$ |
| 14 days – 20 GB | 49,90$ |
| 30 days – 5 GB | 17,90$ |
| 30 days – 10 GB | 24,90$ |
Our personal experience is that with SimOptions cards you waste a lot of time comparing between one card and another. In addition, the price is high, you can only pay in dollars and they don’t give you the guarantee of good technical support. Here we leave you this ranking where we rate SimOptions eSIM cards from 1 to 5 and in this post you can read about our opinion and that of other customers about the brand: Our opinion about SimOptions: is it worth it?
| Data | Duration | Support | Price | App | Speed | Data sharing | Currencies | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 4 | 3 | 3,5 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
3. Maya Mobile, one-month data packs
| Advantages | They offer data packages by continent and for countries. Maya Mobile’s eSIM cards are easy to purchase and install with QR code or manually. They have eSIM cards for 194 destinations. Data plans limited to 1GB, 3GB, 5GB, 10GB that can run out quickly Flexible pricing. They have plans with unlimited data. You can set up auto-recharge after 30 days. They allow data sharing with other devices. |
| Disadvantages | Their eSIM cards do not include calls or sms. No App. The unlimited data plan is limited to 5Mbps. Technical support only in English via a bot. Only 30-day data plans |
This company offers eSIM cards for 30 days in Ireland. In this case, the price of data packages varies according to gigabytes. In total, they have four offers of 1, 3, 5 and 10 gigabytes, as well as two packages with unlimited gigabytes. The prices range from 5€ to 54€.
Like Holafly, Maya Mobile is characterised by the speed and simplicity of the sign-up process and installation. This is also done via a QR code that arrives in the mail. In addition, it offers a 100% refund policy of the purchase in the event that the data does not work. This is unusual, as they have a minimum of two data providers in each country where they offer their services.
| Data plan | Price in Euros |
|---|---|
| 1 GB – 30 days | 5€ |
| 3 GB – 30 days | 7€ |
| 5 GB – 30 days | 10€ |
| 10 GB – 30 days | 18€ |
| unlimited (Ireland) – 30 days | 45€ |
| unlimited (Ireland + Europe) – 30 days | 45€ |
The drawback with Maya Mobile is that their plans are very inflexible and only last for 30 days. On Trustpilot you can see that the brand has an average score of 4.4, but there are hardly any reviews. Here’s a table showing how they rate each of their eSIM card features.
| Data | Duration | Support | Price | App | Speed | Data sharing | Currencies | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 4,5 | 4,5 | 3 | 3,2 |
4. Nomad and its App
| Advantages | They offer regional, country or global data packages. Nomad’s eSIM cards are easy to purchase and install. The App is very convenient and allows you to recharge the eSIM. They offer a wide variety of eSIM cards with different prices and amount of gigabytes. They have eSIM cards for 112 countries. Technical support both in the app and on the web. Very affordable prices. |
| Disadvantages | Gigabytes are limited to 10GB or less and they do not have unlimited data cards. Short-term plans have very limited gigabytes (1GB) Their eSIM cards do not include calls or sms. The duration of data plans is limited to 7 or 30 days. Their services and technical support are exclusively in English. You can only top up the eSIM when it is still active. |
The main feature of Nomad is that it has an App with which its customers can sign up for data plans quickly and easily, and install them directly from the App with a single click. They can also be purchased on the web and installed using a QR code or manually with a numerical code.
The brand offers data plans in over 100 countries and also by continent so you can make use of your internet connection even if you are moving between countries. For a trip to Ireland, you can choose from a total of 13 data plans. All of them last for 7, 15 or 30 days, which doesn’t allow for much flexibility.
Their data limit ranges from 1GB, 3GB, 5GB, 20GB, 30GB, 40GB, 50GB, 100GB, although some of their plans are somewhat confusing, as they offer options with the same amount of data (1GB and 20GB) but with different prices ($6 and $7, and $19 and $20), conveying unreliability
| Data plan | Dollars | Euros | Pounds | CAD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1GB – 7 days | 6$ | 6€ | 5£ | 8,5$ CAD |
| 3GB – 15 days | 12$ | 11,5€ | 10£ | 16,5$ CAD |
| 5GB – 15 days | 14$ | 11,5€ | 10£ | 16,5$ CAD |
| 3GB – 30 days | 12$ | 13€ | 11,5£ | 19$ CAD |
| 5GB – 30 days | 13$ | 12€ | 10,5£ | 18$ CAD |
| 10GB – 30 days | 20$ | 18,5€ | 16,5£ | 27$ CAD |
| 10GB – 30 days | 19$ | 17,5€ | 15,5£ | 26$ CAD |
| 15GB – 30 days | 27$ | 25€ | 22£ | 36,5$ CAD |
| 20GB – 30 days | 35$ | 32,5€ | 28,5£ | 47,5$ CAD |
| 20GB – 30 days | 33$ | 30,5€ | 27£ | 45$ CAD |
However, we can say that the Nomad app is very useful for managing consumption and recharging in case you run out of data. Also, although it’s only available in English, we can reach customer service through it.
You will need to top up your eSIM before it expires if you want to top up your data, otherwise you will need to install a new one if the contract period has passed. For more information on Nomad’s eSIM features, read on in this post. You can also see our ranking of those features here.
| Data | Duration | Support | Price | App | Speed | Data Sharing | Currencies | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 4 | 3,5 | 3,5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3,6 |
5. Airalo, the cheapest eSIM brand for travel to Ireland
| Advantages | They offer regional, country or global data packages. Airalo’s eSIM cards are easy to purchase and install. The cheapest brand on the market. A wide variety of eSIM cards with different duration, price and gigabytes. They have eSIM cards for 190 countries. You can share data with other devices. They allow you to top up the eSIM. They have an App and you can buy and install the eSIM from it. |
| Disadvantages | The gigabytes are limited to 100GB or less and they do not have cards with unlimited data. Short-term plans have very limited gigabytes at 1GB and 5GB. The duration of most plans is more than a month. Their eSIM cards do not include calls and sms. Their services and technical support is exclusively in English and takes a long time to respond. |
Airalo is a company founded in Singapore in 2019 by Turkish entrepreneurs Abraham Burak and Ahmet Bahadir Özdemir. It is considered, along with Holafly, one of the world’s best-known brands for buying an international travel eSIM. It was also one of the first to offer these services, and has a wide coverage of countries where eSIM cards are offered.
Airalo’s eSIM card data plans for Ireland have a duration of 7 and 30 days, and prices range from $7 to $31.5. Airalo is known for being one of the cheapest brands on the market, although this is not always convenient. Its technical service leaves much to be desired and takes a long time to respond, which makes it an unreliable company. In addition, its data plans have very limited gigabytes, so you could run out of data in the middle of your journey and have to recharge. This means that in the end the costs will increase and the cheap will be expensive.
| Data plan | Price in Dollars |
|---|---|
| 1 GB – 7 days | $5 |
| 2 GB – 15 days | $7 |
| 3 GB – 30 days | $9 |
| 5 GB – 30 days | $13 |
| 10 GB – 30 days | $22 |
| 20 GB – 30 days | $32 |
Although Airalo is cheap and offers a wide range of eSIM cards whose spending can be controlled through its App, it’s not one of the best options because of what we’ve told you above about its technical service, as you can see on Trustpilot in the user reviews and ratings.
Airalo has one of the lowest scores at 3.7. Here you have the ranking of each aspect of Airalo and in this post you can also read about our opinion of the brand: Our opinion of Airalo: is it worth it?
| Data | Duration | Support | Price | App | Speed | Data Sharing | Currencies | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 4 | 3 | 4,5 | 4 | 4 | 4,5 | 3 | 3,8 |
Conclusion on the best eSIM for Ireland
In this post we have seen that there are many important factors to consider when comparing eSIM cards as, for each type of travel you will have different connection needs. After testing several brands of eSIM cards for Ireland we have drawn our own conclusions, and have prepared this section where we tell you which eSIM card is best for which type of travel.
When we travel we don’t want to run out of data in the middle of our holiday, so eSIM cards with unlimited data are the best option if we want to travel without worries. In this case, the only brand offering unlimited eSIM data plans. With some companies such as Ubigi, Nomad or Airalo you can top up the eSIM already installed through their website or App, but the best thing is not having to pay again if you run out of data. And remember, you can only top them up while the card is still active.
If you end up opting for an eSIM with limited data, here’s a table to help you estimate how many gigabytes you’ll need based on your usual usage.
| Platform | Gigabyte consumption per hour |
| 0,12 GB – 0,18 GB | |
| 0,12 GB – 0,18 GB | |
| 0,06 GB | |
| Tiktok | 0,18 GB – 0,8 GB |
| Netflix | 0,3 GB – 7 GB |
| YouTube | 0,14 GB – 1,7 GB |
| Amazon Prime | 0,8 GB – 6 GB |
The installation process for eSIM cards is always simple and quick, but it is true that some companies make it even easier. The first thing to do is to check if your mobile is compatible with the brand’s eSIM. You can check this information on each provider’s website.
Buying the eSIM for Ireland can be done via the web for some brands such as Holafly or Simoptions, or via the app such as Nomad or Ubigi. Holafly’s website is very intuitive and easy to use, while Simoptions is quite complicated to understand and you will have to do a lot of reading.
The only brands that allow installation through the App are Nomad and Ubigi, and in the case of Holafly, from the App you can get the code to install the eSIM manually without using a computer. You can also install the eSIM by scanning a QR code that you will receive by email as soon as you have completed the purchase with Holafly, Airalo, Simoptions or Nomad.
On the other hand, it is very important to consider the technical service to help you in the installation process and solve any doubt or problem. Most brands such as Maya Mobile or Airalo have a chat bot that takes a long time to respond and only does so in English. In the case of SimOptions, technical support will depend on the brand of eSIM card you have chosen. In this aspect Holafly’s technical support is the best as they respond in less than 1 minute in Spanish, English, German, French, Italian and Japanese via web chat or WhatsApp.
Many times when travelling we want toshare data with other devices and only some providers such as Airalo, Ubigi and some Simoptions brands make this possible. However, you have to keep in mind that the eSIM data of these brands is limited, and if you share it will run out even sooner.
But one of the most important aspects is price. The cheapest brands are Airalo and Maya Mobile, however, their data plans are very limited, and you’re likely to run out and have to pay for the top-up again. That’s why it’s sometimes advisable to pay a little more and get an unlimited data eSIM card like Holafly’s for peace of mind and no need to recharge again.
All in all, Holafly eSIM cards are the best choice for travelling to Ireland with unlimited data and multilingual technical support that responds in less than a minute. With Holafly you will never run out of data on your trip.
Other options for getting internet in Ireland
E-SIM cards are our preferred option for travelling abroad because of all the advantages they offer, which are detailed in this table. However, there are many other alternatives that you can also consider and that we will tell you about below so that you can decide.
| Convenience | Immediate delivery and activation upon purchase. Pre-purchase prior to travel. Easy installation; unlike SIM cards, you don’t have to remove the original card. Connection as soon as you land, no need to find a shop first. You’ll find tailor-made plans to suit the duration and needs of your trip. No dependency on batteries, as with Pocket wifi. You won’t have to carry an extra device during your trip, like the Pocket Wifi. |
| Tranquility | 24h technical support in English, unlike with a SIM or Pocket Wifi. You won’t have to worry about forgetting or losing any device other than your mobile. |
| Security | Without using public wifi networks vulnerable to hacking. Avoid entering personal data in endless forms to get Wifi. No need to open or manipulate your phone as with eSIM cards. |
1. SIM cards for Ireland
On your route through Ireland you can purchase aSIM card in each European city you land in. At airports and in city shopping areas you’ll find shops selling the major international mobile phone companies such as Lobster, Travelsim and Things Mobile. Prices vary from country to country.
| Advantages | There is a variety of brands and data plans to choose from. Installation is quick. They can be purchased online or in physical shops. You can make calls and send messages with a local number. |
| Disadvantages | You have to exchange it for your regular SIM card, which can be lost or damaged. You have to open and handle the mobile phone during the installation process. When your travel SIM contract runs out, you have to replace it with another one. You have to travel to buy it or wait for the card to arrive at home. You will not be able to keep your regular phone number. |
2. Renting a Pocket WiFi in Ireland
Another alternative for connecting to the internet in Ireland is to rent a Pocket WiFi device, a portable router that allows you to connect to many devices at once as long as they are in close proximity to the device.
| Advantages | It can be used by several devices at the same time. You can choose the gigabyte package that suits you best. No need to install anything on our mobiles. |
| Disadvantages | It is one of the most expensive options. There are few brands to choose from. Long-term contracts are the norm. In addition to the data plan, you have to pay rent, insurance and shipping costs. The battery lasts at most 6 hours. If you use it with more people you have to be in the same room. You have to carry it with you wherever you go and you run the risk of losing it. |
Some companies offering this service are Mio WiFi or Hippocket WiFi. The price ranges from €6 per day plus device rental and insurance. And most limit the number of devices that can be connected.
This option is interesting when you only need internet in a very specific space or for a long period of time. They are often recommended for business trips.
3. Free WiFi networks in Ireland
This is undoubtedly the most common and also the cheapest option. Who hasn’t wandered desperately around a foreign city in search of free WiFi? If you have, then you’ll know how complicated it can be to find Wifi networks that work well, don’t ask you to fill out endless forms, or aren’t time-limited.
| Advantages | It’s free. No need to install anything on our mobiles. |
| Disadvantages | It is difficult to find free wifi networks. Public wifi networks are often slow or have connection problems. You often have to fill in forms and give your personal details. Some free wifi networks are time-limited. You should always connect close to the router. They are vulnerable to hacking. |
While it is true that it is becoming easier to access public Wi-Fi networks in museums, hotels, cafes and on transport, it is true that this option should be used with great caution. Public Wifi hotspots are very vulnerable to hacking and cyber-attacks through which your private data can be accessed. It is therefore recommended to spend as little time as possible connected, to use it for specific queries and not to expose personal data.
4. Activate roaming for Ireland
One of the options that is becoming increasingly less popular due to high costs is roaming. It is the simplest option as you can receive calls and connect to the internet without having to install anything or change your phone number, however, the bills are very high. The cost per MB can be as high as €6 for 1MB, which is crazy.
| Advantages | No installation on our mobile. No extra services to sign up for. You can receive calls, send messages and connect to the internet immediately. |
| Disadvantages | It is the most expensive option. Sometimes it is activated without realising it. Not all phone companies offer this service. |
In Spain there are several companies that offer roaming abroad such as Movistar, Vodafone or Orange. If you choose this option, we recommend that you ask your carrier about the cost of roaming so that you can compare it with other services such as eSIM cards.
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Frequently asked questions about having internet in Ireland
eSIM cards allow you to have internet on your mobile phone when you travel abroad without having to remove your usual SIM card, as is the case with SIM cards. This is possible thanks to a chip that is built into the latest generation of mobile phones.
The purchase of the eSIM data plan can be done through the website or the App of some brands. Choose your destination, the duration and the gigabytes of the data plan and pay securely.
Once you have verified that your mobile phone is compatible with the product and chosen the data plan that best suits your needs, go to the mobile data settings on your smartphone and select “add data plan”. The camera will then open, so you can scan the QR code that you will have received in the mail after the purchase. The installation and activation of your card will then begin.
This process must be carried out with an internet connection, which is why it is recommended that you do it before setting off on your trip or as soon as you arrive at the hotel.
Most models of common brands such as Apple, Samsung, Motorola, Huawei or Google are compatible as long as they are recent models. Several iPads are also compatible. However, it is best to consult the website of each provider, where they will tell you which models are compatible.
SIM cards can be purchased in physical shops or online, with delivery times ranging from 48 to 72 hours. There are also companies that offer same-day express delivery.
Most carriers offer packages with data caps. Holafly, unlike the others, offers a wide variety of unlimited data packages.
Data cards are activated as soon as they are installed in the country of origin, i.e. when the SIM card is inserted or the QR code is scanned.
Data packages usually last for 30 days, however, there are providers such as Holafly that offer more flexible packages between 5 days and 3 months.
Unlimited data plans do not normally allow data sharing, but plans with a specific number of GBs included do.
The data on unlimited plans is really unlimited. Please note, however, that local mobile operators may temporarily reduce the speed if you use applications such as Netflix or YouTube very intensively. These limits are more intended to avoid network saturation by a few users.
Holafly is a Spanish company launched in 2018 that you can trust, it has been tested by more than 400,000 customers, travel blogs and Youtubers. Holafly has been marketing eSIMs since 2019.
Holafly has over 10,000 positive experiences posted on Trustpilot, with an “Excellent” rating and 4.6 average score.
SIM Options has both positive and negative reviews, and a lower average Trustpilot rating than Holafly at 3.8. SIM Options is a Hong Kong based company.
Maya is owned by a US company, Maya Virtual Inc. Reviews of Maya on Trustpilot are good, with an average rating of 4.5.
The price varies depending on the provider, the number of gigabytes and the duration of the contract. The price range is between €5 and €190.
Airalo reviews on Truspilot are good, with an average score of 3.9.
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